Alibaba's Freshippo Shows How It Harnesses Tech To Combat Climate Change at COP28
- Freshippo's initiative helped peach farmers sell hail-damaged peaches, reducing waste by 200 kilograms per mu and increasing their income by RMB1,200 ($168) per mu.
- Freshippo's zero-carbon honey production aims to reduce the impact on Asian elephants caused by farmers cutting rubber and support the sustainable development of local communities.
- There are no negative aspects presented in the PR.
An evaluation of Freshippo's initiatives, such as aiding farmers with hail-damaged peaches and producing zero-carbon honey, reveals a strategic alignment with environmental sustainability and climate resilience in agriculture. The economic implications are multifaceted. Firstly, by providing an alternative market for damaged crops, Freshippo mitigates financial losses for farmers, which could translate into a more stable supply chain and potentially lower volatility in agricultural commodity prices. This is a significant development considering the agricultural sector's vulnerability to climate-induced shocks, which often lead to increased costs and supply shortages.
Furthermore, the promotion of zero-carbon products and support for biodiversity through elephant conservation projects can enhance the company's brand image and appeal to a growing demographic of environmentally conscious consumers. This could potentially lead to increased market share and customer loyalty, which are critical factors for long-term revenue growth. However, it is essential to consider the scalability of these initiatives and their cost implications, as investments in sustainable practices may initially increase operational costs.
The integration of technology in agriculture, as demonstrated by Freshippo, is a pivotal advancement in the field. The use of agritech for seed selection, plant protection and efficient harvesting can lead to significant increases in crop yields and quality. Particularly, the ability to grade and process hail-damaged peaches into marketable products showcases an innovative approach to value-added agriculture, which could serve as a model for other agricultural enterprises facing similar climate challenges.
Moreover, the initiative to combat desertification by planting pumpkins in the Ulan Buh Desert not only addresses environmental concerns but also creates economic opportunities in arid regions. The expansion of pumpkin fields indicates the potential for agritech to transform unproductive lands into profitable agricultural bases. This could have far-reaching implications for food security and rural development.
Freshippo's approach to sustainable development, particularly in its collaboration with IFAW and local communities, highlights the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in modern business practices. By contributing to the conservation of Asian elephants and promoting sustainable livelihoods through beekeeping, the company is addressing key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
The long-term benefits of such initiatives include fostering goodwill among stakeholders and potentially securing a competitive advantage as a leader in sustainability. However, the true impact of these initiatives on local communities and biodiversity conservation must be regularly assessed to ensure that the intended benefits are realized and to justify the investment from a business perspective.
- Freshippo helps peach farmers cut losses from natural disasters and increase revenue by
$168 /mu - The grocer is also reducing the impact on Asian elephants from farmers cutting rubber
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / December 27, 2023 / Alibaba Group
By Alison Tudor Ackroyd
Alibaba Group's high-tech grocer Freshippo showcased how technology can help farmers harness technology to combat climate change at COP28.
Technology can support farmers in addressing the effects of climate change by improving the choice of seed types, plant protection, harvesting and transport of food.
"Agriculture will continue to be heavily impacted by climate change, making it the common mission of global agriculture practitioners to address climate resilience in agriculture," said Shen Li, co-founder and Freshippo's head of sustainable development.
Shen spoke on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).
Providing rapid response and maximum assistance to farmers to minimize their losses minimizes the impact of climate-related disasters.
When a hailstorm hit several peach farms in Beijing in 2022, they faced losses of over RMB6 million. Freshippo graded visually damaged peaches as "hail-damaged peaches" and processed those peaches into freeze-dried peach crisps.
This initiative helped farmers sell the hail-damaged peaches, reducing waste by 200 kilograms per mu and the peach farmers increased their income by RMB1,200 (
"We hope to work together with Freshippo to help agricultural practitioners worldwide explore agricultural climate adaptation," said Fu Xiaotian, the China Food and Natural Resources Program Director of the World Resources Institute.
Protecting Elephants
Selecting suitable species to cultivate based on the prevailing climate conditions helps agricultural enterprises build climate resilience into farming, said Freshippo.
Freshippo showcased the zero-carbon honey it began to produce with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in March this year. The project aims to train villagers in the Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan Province, China, to keep bees and collect and sell their honey, reducing the impact on Asian elephants caused by farmers cutting rubber in the mountains and minimizing conflict between human beings and the elephants.
By using solar water heaters, installing photovoltaic systems, and planting eco-friendly economic crops, the carbon footprint of honey production is also fully offset. In addition, Freshippo will donate RMB10 from the sale of each bottle of honey to support the sustainable development of local communities.
"As the first zero-carbon honey produced in China for the conservation of wild Asian elephants, Freshippo is helping to connect elephants, local community members, and the whole society to address climate change," said Dr. Jimmiel Mandima, IFAW's Vice President of Global Programs.
Pumpkins in the Desert
Helping hold back the encroaching desert, Freshippo opened up a 200-mu organic base in the Ulan Buh Desert in Inner Mongolia. Last year, it harvested 400,000 pumpkins.
The pumpkin fields have expanded to 1,000 mu this year, and each pumpkin's growth can help prevent water and soil erosion, affecting about 43 square feet of surrounding soil.
"The agriculture industry plays an important role in carbon reduction as it is the industry most affected by climate change. The cases shared by Freshippo have brought greater attention to the industry's adaptability to climate change issues," said Zhou Fei, WWF-China's Chief Programme Officer.
Please refer to https://www.alizila.com/esg/ for additional information about Alibaba's sustainability efforts.
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FAQ
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